Trunk-fixture



(No Model.)

0. A. TAYLOR.

TRUNK FIXTURE.

No. 389,118. Patented Sept. 4, 1888.

4J4 ATTORNEY,

UNITED STATES PATENT Fries.

CHARLES A. TAYLOR, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN H.

SESSIONS, OF BRISTOL, CONNECTICUT.

TRUNK-FIXTURE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 389,118, dated September 4, 1888.

Application filed Marchll, 1987.

To all whont it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. TAYLOR, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined Trunk- Tray Catches and Lifts, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of my invention is to provide a combined trunk-tray lifter and catch, which will afford a convenient finger-grasp when it is desired to raise said tray, and which, when said tray is raised and pushed into the lid of the trunk, will hold it therein, substantially as hereinafter described, and as illustrated in in the drawings, in which--- Figure I is a transverse vertical section of the upper part of a trunk, showing a tray therein to which is applied my invention. Fig. II is a front view of my invention. Fig. III is a transverse vertical central section. Fig. IV is a side elevation thereof; and Figs. V and VI show a front and side elevation, re spectively, of a modification of my invention.

Reference being had to the drawings, A represents a trunk having a tray, B, the latter hinged to the back of the trunk contiguous to the hinges of the trunk-lid, and adapted to be swung up into the lid when it is desired to have access to the body of the trunk. The front of the tray, projecting above the upper edge of the body of the trunk, is usually beveled, as shown. To this beveled surface, preferably about its center of length, I secure my improved combined lift and catch. This combined lift and catch consists of screw-plates a a, bowed outward between the screw-holes to form bearings for the oscillating parts of my invention, as will hereinafter be more fully explained, and their upper ends are con nected by a web, I), which is recessed in its under surface or otherwise constructed, so that the leafspring C may be secured thereto and project down therefrom centrally between the screw-plates a a.

D represents an open frame describing somewhat the contour of a T, the upper rectangular part of which is designed to form a lift, 0, and the lower vertical part of which is set at an obtuse angle to lift 6 and serves as a catch, E. The lower horizontal shoulder, f, of the lift 6, which connects the same and catch Serial No.21l0.779.. (No model.)

16, pass under plates a in the bearings thereof in such manner that the sides of the catch project downward between the leaf-spring C and said plates (1. The leaf-spring C passes downward sufficiently far so that it passes under and presses outward against the crossbar g, connecting the sides of the catch E, and maintains said catch out from the surface of the tray, as shown.

Vhcn it is desired to raise the tray, the fill gers grasp the lift 0, which oscillates outward. \Vhen the tray has been raised sufficiently,the lift is released (the catch thereby automatically oscillating outward) and the tray pushed up into the lid. As the tray passes into the lid, the upper edge of the crossbar g of the catch strikes against and snaps over a stud, F, secured to and projecting from the inner surface of the front of the trunk-lidin alignment with said catch, thus securing said tray in the trunk-lid.

\Vhen the tray is oscillated to and secured within the trunk-lid while the latter is open, the resistance necessary to keep it such position is small. \Vhen, however, the lid is closed, the weight of the tray overcomes the tension of spring 0 and the catch oscillates off the stud, thus automatically releasing the tray from the lid. If desired, however, the catch E may project down below the edges of the lid and strike against a beveled surface cut in the upper edge of the body of the trunk, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. III, and pusher: the catch inward off the stud.

Instead of providing stud F, I can provide the catch with a projection, i, which, when said tray is oscillated into the trunk-lid,catehes in a recess made therein, in register therewith.

In Figs. V and VII show a modification of my invention and show how the lift can likewise serve as a catch. In this modification I reverse the position of the screw-plates, as shown in the first four figures ofthe drawings, so as to have the spring C extend upward, and journal in the screw-plates a rectangular link-shaped lift which has a lug projecting down from the upper horizontal cross-piece, between the said screw plates, which rests upon spring C, and keeps the lift in about the position shown in Fig. VI. This lift can be oscil lated upward when grasped, so far as to lay back against the tray; but when said tray is to be pushed into the lid, said lift is dropped to about the angle shown in Fig. VI, so that as it enters the lid it catches over a stud or studs in substantially the same manner as the catch shown in Figs. II, III, and 1V does. It will be noticed that the lower cross-bar of this modification is provided with a downwardly projecting lug. This lug, as well as that part of the catch E shown in Figs. II, III and 1V which extends below the cross-bar a thereof, is for the purpose of enabling a person when the tray is caught up in the open lid to push his finger up under the front of the lid and by pressing on said lug or extension to move the catch (or lift when the modification is used) offsaid studs and permit the tray to be oscillated down into the body of the trunk.

I wish to be considered as claiming the catch mechanism of my invention as well without the lift part as with it, for it is obvious that the catch would operatejust as well were the ordinary leather lifts secured on said tray. I prefer combining the two, however.

What I claim as new is- 1. The combination,in a trunk,with a trunklid having the inner surface of its front pro vided with a shoulder and the tray, as described, of an oscillating catch pivotally connected at about the vertex of the beveled front of saidtray in position to engage the said shoulder of the trunlclid, and a spring for holding the free end of said catch out at an angle to the front of the tray so that it will engage said shoulder, for the purpose as set forth.

2. The combination, in a trunk, with the trunk-lid having the inner surface of the front thereof provided with a shoulder and the tray, of the oscillating spring-catch E, said catch being V-shaped and pivoted at its vertex to the tray in such position that that part above its pivotal point serves as a lift and the part below said point when the tray is closed up into the open lid catches upon said shoulder and prevents the tray from independently oscillating out of said lid, as set forth.

3. The combination, in a trunk, with the trunk-lid stud F,secured thereto,as described, and tray thereof, of the screw-plates a, catch It, pivoted therein, having a cross-bar, 9, connecting its sides, and spring 0, as set forth.

4. The combination,in atrunk,with the lidstud F,pro j ecting inward therefrom,and tray thereof, of the screw-plates a a, connected by web b, catch E,pivoted in said plates and having a crossbar, 9, connecting its sides, and spring 0, secured to and projecting down from said web and passing under and pressing outward against cross-bar 9.

CHARLES A. TAYLOR.

Witnesses:

FRANK D. THOMASON, J NO. W. SIoKELs. 

